Wooden bowling pins of spherical belly type and prefabricated segments therefor



y 1963 c. D. DOSKER 3,099,449

WOODEN BOWLING PINS OF SPHERICAL BELLY TYPE. AND PREFABRICATED SEGMENTSTHEREFOR Filed May 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CORNELIUS D.DOSKER BY MW ATTORN EY July 30, 1963 c. D. DOSKER WOODEN BOWLING PINS 0FSPHERICAL BELLY TYPE AND PREFABRICATED SEGMENTS THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed May 15, 1961 h ii!" INVENTOR.

CORNELIUS D. DOSKER ATTOR NEY United tates Patent tucky Filed May 15,1961, Ser. No. 114,269 17 Claims. (Cl. 273-452) This invention relatesgenerally to wooden bowling pins and, more particularly, to pins of thespherical belly type conventionally having a spherically convex impactzone extending in the horizontal direction circularly around (and in thevertical direction convexly across) the belly of the pin and being moreor less centered on an equator which encircles the pin in the horizontalplane of its maximum belly diameter. This application is acontinuationin-part of my two earlier filed copending applications, Ser.No. 695,391, filed Nov. 8, "1957, now abandoned, and Ser. No. 733,996,filed May 8, 1958, now abandoned.

A bowling pin of the spherical belly type is universally made from asolid or laminated block of hard maple having a length slightly greaterthan the height of the pin and a square cross-section large enough toembrace the equator of the pin. The block presents four rectangularverticallyelongate faces, each of which is characterized by longitudinalgrain or long grain, which may be fiat grain or edge grain or riftgrain. Long grain extends vertically in the block as it did in the tree.In an oversimplified way, long grain wood may be viewed as beingcomposed of a longitudinally elongate succession of relatively shortfibers interconnected with each other to form an elongate chain-likenetwork which is characterized by elongate tubular channels or ducts.

The turning of the block to the shape of a bowling pin involves cuttingthe impact zone-forming portion of each face in a spherically convexmanner. Where fiat grain is being cut, the edges of the outermostsurface layer of wood will show up as a small circle (or oval) centeredon the equator of the pin while the edges of successive underlyinglayers will show up as progressively larger and more or less concentriccircles (or ovals). Where edge grain is being cut, the edges ofsuccessive vertically extending side-by-side layers of wood will show upas parallel lines centered on and extending vertically across theequator.

In each case, vertically-extending wood fiber chains, contained in theflat grain circles or in the edge grain lines of each layer of woodwhich is cut, are transversely severed above and below the equator sothat the impact zone surface of the pin is characterized not only byrelatively short chains of fibers extending vertically across theequator of the pin but also by a multitude of end grain openings locatedboth above and below the equator. These end grain openings are formed inthe surface of the pin by the severed ends of the tubular ducts in thecut chains of surface layers and of underlying layers.

During use, bowling pins repeatedly encounter violent impacts. As aresult, they become so damaged, particularly in the central area whichembraces the ball-line and the equator, as to require frequentreplacement. In my opinion, this rapid development of damage is due,among other things, (a) to the presence of vertically short chains ofnetwork fibers along the equator and of end grain openings above andbelow the equator in both fiat grain and edge grain pins and (b) to thepresence of small circular slab-like layers along the equator of fiatgrain pins.

For example, a violent impact in the central area pinpoints a relativelyhigh stress on a relatively short chain of network fibers. This networkis operative to distribute and dissipate this high stress only over therelatively ice small area which it embraces. It is my belief thatrepeated high stresses within small areas soon become effective to breakthe affected fibers loose sufficiently to produce surface cracks andfissures which weaken the pin and render it more susceptible to furtherdamage.

The end grain openings above and below the equator enable the ductsunderlying the central area to absorb and lose moisture with changes inthe humidity of the ambient atmosphere. This causes the wood in thecentral area of the pin to expand and contract and thus subjects it tostresses which tend to weaken undamaged wood and increase the damage ofdamaged wood.

Where the wood in the central area is in the form of one or morecircular slab-like layers, as is the case in fiat grain pins, a violentimpact along the ball-line may (and often will) pinpoint a strongobliquely upward force along the lower edge of a slab. A large componentof this force extends upwardly in a direction parallel with the plane ofseparation between adjacent slab-like layers and thus functions as ashearing force which tends to separate one or more of these layers fromthe pin.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to eliminate orsubstantially reduce the presence of relatively short chains of networkfibers, end grain openings and slab-like layers in the impact zone ofthe pin; and to effect a substantial reduction in the rate of damagedevelopment in the impact zone with a corresponding reduction in thefrequency of pin replacement and in the expense occasioned thereby.

Another important object is to provide a bowling pin having an impactzone surface essentially composed of substantial numbers of elongatechains of fiber networks and characterized by the substantial absence ofrelatively short chains, end grain openings and small slab-like layers.

A further object is to accomplish the foregoing objectives with a simplyconstructed bowling pin which is easy to manufacture and which can becommercially produced in volume at a commercially attractive and highlycompetitive price.

The foregoing objects of my invention may be attained by providing a pinwith a spherically convex impact zone surface composed wholly of longgrain wood veneer with the grain of the veneer preferably extendinglengthwise in the direction of the longest dimension of the veneer.Thus, the entire spherically convex impact zone surface may be providedby a segment of fiat, edge of rift grain wood veneer wrapped completelyaround the equator of the pin or by two (or more) long grain veneersegments wrapped around half (or less) of the equator of the pin, eachfull or fractional segment extending substantially across the fullvertical width of the impact zone. Each full or fractional segment maybe composed of one layer or of several superposed layers of veneer, butonly the outermost layer will actually function as the impact zonesurface. Each segment is molded or bent to the spherically convex shapeof the pin (at the impact zone) and then adhesively bonded in place.

It will be evident that a bowling pin of this character has an imp-actsurface essentially composed of substantial numbers of long chain fibernetworks and characterized by the substantial absence of short chainfiber networks, end grain and/or small slab-like layers. As aconsequence, it is less apt to incur severe impact zone damage and,therefore, requires replacement less frequently. Its simple constructionrenders it easy to make in commercial volume at a price comparable tothat of conventional pins while its increased ability to withstandpunishment not only lengthens its useful life but reduces itsmaintenance cost.

Hollow and solid core bowling pins made in accordance with the foregoingaspect of my invention, comprise (a) a solid or hollow bowling pin corehaving an impact-zone segment receiving area which is undersized by apredetermined amount; and (b) a long grain veneer impact-zone segment tocover that receiving area and bring it up to a desired size. Themanufacture of the core involves one series of manufacturing steps oroperations While the manufacture of the veneer segment involves adifferent type and series of manufacturing steps, after which the partsmay be assembled and bonded together.

Other important objects of my invention are: to provide an improvedhollow or solid core bowling pin having the above obtained advantagesnot only in the lower portion of the pin but also in part or all of theouter surface area of the upper portion thereof; and to provide animproved hollow core bowling pin which is constructed in a manner usedto make all veneer impact-zone segments of desired prefabricated shape.

The first of these latter objects of my invention may be attained byproviding a solid or hollow core bowling pin having all or substantiallyall of the entire outer surface provided by a single sheet or anappropriate number of segments of long grain veneer.

The second of these latter objects of my invention may be attained byproviding a hollow core composed of a horizontal succession ofvertically divided or vertically separate laminated segments composed oflayers of veneer superposed in the direction of its depth. In otherwords, each segment is composed of a plurality of depthwise superposedlayers of veneer providing a wall thickness equal to that of the core ofthe product pin and each veneer layer extends vertically substantiallythroughout the height of the product pin and circularly a predeterminedhorizontal distance not greater than one-half the circumference of thepin.

The outer surface of the core is provided by an outer layer of longgrain veneer which may be assembled over the core veneer andsimultaneously molded with and bonded to it. In either case, the solidor hollow product pin is faced with long grain veneer and, therefore,has the advantages attending the use of long grain veneer on the face ofthe pin. In the second case, a hollow bowling pin body is provided. Thisbody can be easily, quickly and cheaply manufactured since the segmentsare easy to make, trim, assemble in circular succession and then bond toform either the hollow core of the product pin or the product pinitself.

The inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one embodiment of the novel bowlingpin;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section of FIG. 1 taken on line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of FIG. 1 taken on line 33;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the novel bowling pin of FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is :an elevational view of a second embodiment of the novelbowling pin;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 7"7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective sectional view of la howling pin segment used informing the bowling pin of FIG. 5 and FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragment ofFIG. 6.

Broadly speaking, my invention resides in facing a bowling pin with longgrain veneer. In the first embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, only the impact zoneis faced with such veneer whereas, in the second embodiment,substantially the entire outer surface of the pin is provided by longgrain veneer.

First Embodiment-FIGS. 1-4

In that aspect of my invention, the preferred form of which isexemplified by my first embodiment, the veneer may extend as follows:(a) vertically across the full height of the impact zone of the pin;(12) horizontally, either as a continuous strip extending completelyaround the circumference of the pin, or as a continuous succession ofsegments, which may or may not be prefabricated shaped segments, eachextending around one-half or less of the circumference of the pin; and(c) depthwise over one or more layers of veneer embracing an outerfractional part of the full wall thickness of the impact zone of thepin.

In the preferred form, the long grain veneer extends: vertically asstated; horizontally as. a continuous succession of segmentsprefabricated to a desired spherically convex outer surface shape; anddepthwise over several additional layers of veneer, which cooperate withthe routermost layer to form a prefabricated multi-ply segment ofspherical concavo-convex form. Only the preferred embodiment will bedescribed in detail.

The bowling pin 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is conventionally shaped,having a base 2, belly 3, neck 4- and head 5, all contained in a woodenpin body 6. This body can be made in the conventional way from either asingle block of solid wood or a composite block of laminated wood. Itcan be conventionally turned in a lathe to the conventional bowling pinshape.

In this embodiment of my invention, a full sized pin is provided with anendless circumferential groove encircling the impact zone of its bellyand with a horizontal succession of two or more veneer segments formingan endless band which fills that groove.

The circumferential groove *7 extends lengthwise completely around thecircumference of the impact zone of the pin, widthwise completely acrossthe width of the impact zone and depthwise a (normally uniform) distancesufficient to accommodate the overall thickness of the layer or layersof veneer used. It will be understood that so long as the depth of thegroove is uniform, the floor of the groove 7 will curve in a sphericalmanner, i.e., curve convexly both horizontally along its length andvertically across its Width. The circumferentially extending side wallsof the groove are preferably cut to extend outwardly from the adjacentportion of the curved floor of the groove at an angle ranging fromslightly less to slightly greater than a right angle.

While the veneer band 8 may be composed of two or more segments, threeare preferred and therefore illustrated. They are designated by thenumerals 9, 9 and 9". Before passing, it may be noted that the termspherical segments is herein broadly used to designate spheroidalsegments as well as segments of a true sphere.

Each segment may be composed of a suitable number of veneer pliesranging from say 1 to 8 or more, depending, in part, on the thickness ofthe veneer. Flat cut or flat grain, edge cut or quarter grain and riftcut or rift grain veneers are readily "available in various thicknessesincluding /8 A and A segment, composed of 5 veneer plies, may be readilymade by stacking five long grain veneer sheets, one upon the other witha suitable adhesive between the sheets ilo form a flat assembly. Toincrease the resistance of the segment to splitting, the wood grain inany one sheet of this assembly should not extend parallel to the woodgrain of the next adjacent sheet. To maintain a high resistance todelarnination, the departure from Wood grain parallelism should bemininn'zed. Accordingly, each of the veneer sheets of the flat assemblyis angularly positioned so that its wood grain extends, relative to thewood grain of adjacent sheets, at an angle ranging from about 5 to about2.0". The flat assembly is then compressed or molded to the desiredshape and permanently held in such shape by setting or curing theadhesive used.

In its final shape, each segment has its innermost veneer face concavelyshaped in a spherical manner and its outermost veneer face convexlyshaped in a spherical manner. In other words, the bonded veneer assemblyis of concave-convex shape both vertically and horizontally. The innerface is concavely shaped in both directions to conform to the matingshape of the floor of the groove 7. The outer face is convexly shaped inthe same manner to provide a horizontally and vertically convex outersurface throughout the impact zone in the conventional way. If desired,each segment, as a whole, may be cupped a little more concavely on itsinner side and convexly on its outer side to facilitate final assemblyas will be later explained.

In accordance with a particular feature of my invention, it is desirableto maximize the length of the wood grain employed in the segments.Accordingly, the segments themselves should be made of the largestpractical size With their grain lines running generally in the directionof the largest dimension. While this is desirable, it is not essentialso long as the wood fiber system is of substantial size. Thus, if asegment were to measure three inches vertically and four inchescircumferentially, good results could be obtained with the wood grainrunning either horizontally or vertically, the best results being obtainable with the wood grain running circumferentially.

Before assembling the segments on the body 6, the edges are trimmed towhatever shape is necessary to secure flush abutment along allperimetric joint lines. By cupping the segrnents slightly more thantheir final assembled shape requires, it becomes relatively easy toassemble them on the body of the pin and then flatten them into flushface-to-face engagement with the floor of the groove. Once flattened,they are held in assembled relationship until the adhesive, bonding themto the body of the pin, is finally cured or set. During the flatteningof the segments, their perimetrical edges will move outwardly and thismovement is utilized to insure firm flush tight engagement of such edgeswith the adjacent edges of adjacent segments and with the adjacentportions of the side walls of the groove.

The multi-ply veneer band 8 thus formed by the segments has two verydistinct advantages. In the first place, it is of uniform thickness;hence, its margins are as strong and damage resistant as any other partof the segment and much stronger than they would be if they were tapereddown to a fine edge. In the second place, it is characterized by woodfiber systems of substantial area; hence, less subject to damage. Thisis due to the fact that when a group of fibers receive an impact attheir center, for example, they tend to move inwardly at the point ofimpact and thereby exert a corresponding pull on the interconnectedfibers of the rest of the system in a direction proceeding from theperimeter of the system toward the center of the impact. As aconsequence, the fibers of the system are tensioned and the stress isdistributed and dissipated throughout the entire extent of the system.The dissipation of the stress over a substantial area often avoids thedamage which would occur if that same stress were localized, i.e.,confined to a relatively small area, as is the case when the impactfalls upon a fiber system of small size.

The veneer band segments may be made of natural wood veneer asheretofore indicated or they may be made of long fibered material,excelsior for example, which is compressed and bonded into veneer layersor veneer band segments of desired spherical concave-convex form.

In one of the broader aspects of my invention, each segment of my firstembodiment may not only be composed of single or multiple layers ofveneer but it may also include what would normally be a segment of thecore body or wall. For example, the depth of the groove 7 may be ofuniform or non-uniform magnitude s-ufficient to accommodate the veneerplus a segment of other material such as core material. Thus, in FIGS. 2and 3, the floor of the groove may be in the form of an axially straightcylinder so as to extend along dotted line 10', in which event the corematerial, which corresponds to a segment and which lies between theinnermost veneer face of the segment and dotted line 10, would beseparated from the central portion of the core proper and bonded to theinnermost veneer face of the segment to form an 6 integral part of thesegment. Obviously a multitude of variations of this character willsuggest themselves.

Second Embodiment-FIGS. 5-9

In that aspect of my invention, the preferred form of which isexemplified by my second embodiment, the veneer may extend as follows:vertically over substantially the entire belly portion of the pin plussubstantially all of the neck portion thereof and, if desired, part orall of the head portion; and horizontally and depthwise as in the firstembodiment, except that, depthwise, it additionally embraces wallthicknesses ranging up to and including the full wall thickness of theimpact zone of the pm.

In the preferred and illustrated form of my second embodiment, theveneer forms a multi-ply segment prefabricated to a desired shape andextends as follows: vertically across the full height of the pin;horizontally around less than one-half of the circumference of the pin;and depthwise through the full wall thickness of the pin. Only thepreferred form of this embodiment will be described in detail.

The second bowling pin embodiment 101 shown in FIG. 5 is of aconventional shape and includes a base 102, belly 103, neck 104 and head105. It is hollow and is composed of five identical circumferentialsegments 106 having outwardly diverging side edges 107 which areedge-joined together along joints lying in radial planes extendingthrough the longitudinal axis of the pin 101. Each segment forms 72degrees of the pins circumference. It is preferable to have an oddnumber of segments so that no two joints between the segments will bediametrically aligned.

The segments 106 are assembled around an upper cylindrical dowel or corerod 108 extending through the head and neck 104 and a lower dowel orcore rod 109 which varies in diameter along its length and extendsupwardly from the pin base 102. The oppositely disposed interiorsurfaces at the upper end of the head 105, of the neck 104 and at thelower end of the base 102 are circularly cut or bored to correspond tothe curvature of the core dowel rods 10% and 109, the bored innersurfaces of both the head and neck being indicated by the referencenumber 110 and the bored inner surface of the base being indicated at111 in FIG. 8. The lower dowel 109 is provided with an enlarged portion109' intermediate its ends which conforms to and supports the inner sideof the segments 106 adjacent their lower ends. The inner sides of thepin segments are grooved at 112, along the widest diameter or the ballline of the pin belly 10-3, to receive a disc 113, which supports andbridges the hollow pin 101 across its belly 103. The upper end of thelower dowel rod 109 is reduced in diameter and extends upwardly into acentral hole in the disc 113. Glue or other suitable adhesive is used tobind the segments 106 to each other, to the dowel rods 108 and 109 andto the disc 113.

The segments 106 are laminated walls composed of a plurality of woodenveneer plies 114 bonded together and pressed into the necessary compoundcurvature shape of a bowling pin. Preferably, the outer ply 114 and thenext adjacent ply, as seen in FIG. 9, are composed of hard maple and arearranged with their fibers running longitudinally and extending for thelength of the segment 106. As the wood fibers follow the contour of thesegment, instead of being cut, the outer surface of each segment iscomposed exclusively of long grain wood.

In one specimen of the second embodiment 101, each segment 106 includedtwelve plies of inch veneer, making the segment walls inch thick. Inthat specimen, the upper dowel rod 108 was /2 inch in diameter and thelower end of the lower dowel rod 109 was one inch in diameter. In otherspecimens, seven to nine plies of veneer ranging from A; to of an inchin thickness were used, the average wall thickness ranging from A of aninch to of an inch more or less.

It will be appreciated that a multi-ply veneer segment 1%, prefabricatedin accordance with the second embodiment of my invention, provides thefull wall thickness of a hollow bowling pin 10:1 vertically over theentire height of the pin and horizontally over a circumferentialfraction which may, of course, vary if desired.

A suitable method of making the bowling pin 101 comprises: (1) cuttingeach flat veneer ply to the required segment shape; (2) applyingadhesive to the plies; (3) superposing a plurality of plies to form astack; (4) compressing the stack between dies to the sphericalconcavoconvex shape required by the segment and then holding it in suchshape until the adhesive cures; (5) trimming the segment to removeexcess materials from its ends and to provide it with slanted edges; (6)boring the inner wall of the segment along its base, neck and head tofit the dowel rod which is to be vertically arranged in the long axis ofthe pin; (7) planing the edges of the segment; (8) grooving the innerwall of the segment horizontally along its equator; (9) bonding theparts in assembled relationship to form a complete unitary pin; and (10)finishing the pin in any suitable way as by sanding it and then applyingsuitable coating materials.

The terms long-grain veneer or long-grain veneer sheet are used in theirconventionally accepted sense to designate a veneer sheet of initialuniform thickness, the opposite faces of which are essentially composedof substantial numbers of elongate chains of wood fiber networks andcharacterized by the absence of substantial numbers of relatively shortchains, end grain openings or small slab-like layers. By initial uniformthickness, I mean that it was of conventional uniformity in thicknessbefore being molded to the desire-d shape either in forming 'aprefabricated segment or in applying the veneer to and pressing itagainst the pin. In the finished product of this invention, whether itbe in the form of a prefabricated segment or of a complete bowling pin,the layers of the veneer may not be as uniformly thick as they initiallywere because the stresses to which the present invention subjects eachveneer layer may attenuate, compress or otherwise reduce the thicknessof some portion of the veneer. Similarly, the sanding operation mayreduce the thickness of the outer layer more at some points than atothers.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A circumferential wall-forming structure for use in making a bowlingpin product of predetermined size and shape and of the type havingsuperposed upper and lower portions including upper head and neckportions and a lower spherical belly portion embracing a sphericallyconvex impact zone extending in the horizontal direction circularlyaround and in the vertical direction convexly across the belly portionof the pin and being more or less centered on an equator which encirclesthe pin in the horizontal plane of its maximum belly diameter,comprising: a unitary impact-zone segment having a spherically convexbelly portion extending vertically over a predetermined distancecorresponding at least to the vertical extent of the impact zone of saidproduct pin and extending circumferentially over a predetermineddistance ranging from a fraction of the circumference of said productpin to the full circumference thereof, the entire outer surface of saidbelly portion of said unitary segment corresponding in shape to thespherically convex shape of the corresponding portion of said productpin, and being provided by an outermost spherically convex layer of longgrain wood veneer of substantially uniform thickness.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein: said outermost layer of long grainwood veneer forms the entire outermost layer of a plurality ofsuperposed long grain wood veneer plies, each of which is substantiallyuniform in thickness and all of which are bonded together to form aunitary multi-ply segment extending circularly over a predetermineddistance not greater than one-half of the circumference of the productpin.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein: the inner surface of the innermostlayer of said unitary segment has a spherically concave surfacesubstantially paralleling the spherically convex outer surface of theouter layer of said segment.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein: said unitary segment has upper andlower portions corresponding to the superposed upper and lower portionsof said product pin and extending vertically over a predetermineddistance corresponding substantially to the vertical extent ofcorresponding portions of said pin, the outer surface shape of saidupper and lower portions of said unitary segment corresponding to thatof said product pin, and said long grain wood veneer providessubstantially the entire outer surface of the upper portion of saidunitary segment as well as the lower portion thereof.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein: said long grain wood veneer formsthe outermost layer of a plurality of superposed long grain wood veneerplies, each of which is substantially uniform in thickness and all ofwhich are bonded together separately from said product pin to form aprefabricated unitary multi-ply segment extending circularly over apredetermined distance not greater than one-half of the circumference ofthe product pin.

6. The prefabricated structure of claim 5 for use in making a productpin of the hollow type having a wall thickness of predetermined order,wherein: said multi-ply segment extends depthwise over a distancesubstantially equal to the said wall thickness of said product pin.

7. A prefabricated segment for a bowling pin of predetermined size andshape, comprising: a unitary segment of a bowling pin wall having avertical and horizontal curvature corresponding to a portion of thevertical side wall of a bowling pin product and extending not onlyvertically over a distance at least equal to that of the ball impactzone or belly of said product pin but also hori- Zontally over adistance equal to a predetermined fraction of the circumference of saidproduct pin but not greater than one-half thereof, said horizontalcurvature defining in cross section a circular are not greater thandegrees, said segment including a plurality of superposed wood veneerplies bonded together with the outer ply not only being of substantiallyuniform thickness throughout and providing the entire outer surface ofthe segment but also being a long grain veneer having its long wood[fibers extending parallel to and conforming with said outer surface.

8. A bowling pin comprising: a bowling pin body of the type having upperand lower portions including upper head and neck portions and a lowerspherical belly portion embracing a spherically convex impact zoneextending in the horizontal direction circularly around and in thevertical direction convexly across the belly portion of the pin body andbeing more or less centered on an equator which encircles the pin bodyin the horizontal plane of its maximum belly diameter, said pin having aspherically convex layer composed wholly of long grain wood veneer whichis substantially uniform in thickness and which is bonded to the bellyportion of the pin body in position to provide substantially the entireouter surface of the spherically convex impact zone of the pin.

9. The pin of claim 8 wherein: said veneer is vertically divided into atleast two segments, each of which extends horizontally over not morethan one-half of the whole circumferenece of the pin body and verticallyover substantially the entire height of the upper and lower portions ofthe pin body to provide the outer surface of the corresponding portionsof the pin.

10. The pin of claim 8 wherein: said wood veneer forms the outermostlayer of a plurality of superposed long grain wood veneer plies, each ofwhich is substantially uniform in thickness and all of which are bondedtogether to form a unitary muti-ply segment.

11. The pin of claim 10 wherein: said multi-ply segment extendsvertically over substantially the entire height of the upper and lowerportions of the pin body to provide the outer surface of thecorresponding portions of the 12. The pin of claim 11 wherein: said bodyis hollow, having a wall thickness of predetermined order; and saidmulti-ply segment extends depthwise over a distance substantially equalto said wall thickness of said body.

13. A bowling pin of predetermined shape comprising: a body having abase, belly, neck and head and a groove which extends lengthwisecompletely around the circumference of the ball impact zone of the pin,widthwise completely across the width of the impact zone and depthwise adistance sufficient to accommodate the overall thickness of at least twolayers of veneer; and a multi-ply band of wood veneer of substantiallyuniform thickness filling the groove, being adhesively attached to saidbody and concavo-convexly curved in both the vertical and horizontaldirections, the outer ply of said band extending entirely across thewidth and entirely around the circumference of said groove to providethe entire outer surface of said ball impract zone and having its woodfibers extending parallel to and conforming with said outer surface.

14. The bowling pin of claim 13 wherein: said band is formed of severalconcavo-convex segments of multiply veneer arnanged in series with theirmutually adjacent edges in abutting relationship.

15. The bowling pin of claim 14 wherein: each segment has oppositelydisposed edge portions in abutting relationship to opposed side wallportions of said groove.

16. The bowling pin of claim 15 wherein: the perimetric edge of eachsegment is composed of as many 10 plies :as the segment as a whole; andthe inner face of each segment is adhesivel'y secured in flushface-to-face engagement with the floor of the groove.

17. A bowling pin of predetermined shape having a base, belly, neck andhead, comprising: a circumferential series of segments arranged aroundthe longitudinal axis of the pin with adjacent segments bonded togetheralong their abutting edges; the outer surface of each segment having avertical and horizontal curvature simulating that of a portion of thevertical side wall of a bowling pin, which portion extends verticallyover the base, belly, neck and head portions of said bowling pin andhorizontally over a predetermined fraction of its circumference but notgreater than one-half thereof, said segment including a plurality ofsuperposed wood veneer plies bonded together with the outer ply not onlybeing of substantially uniform thickness throughout and providing theentire outer surface of the segment but also being of long grain veneerhaving its long wood fibers extending parallel to and conforming withsaid outer surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,170,339 Romunder Feb. 1, 1916 1,205,278 Skalla Nov. 21, 1916 1,399,071Nowak Dec. 6, 1921 1,583,824 Bishop May 11, 1926 1,628,886 Jackson etal. May 17, 1927 2,017,060 I-llillerich Oct. 15, 1935 2,379,006 JohnsonJune 26, 1945 2,494,351 Montero Jan. 10, 1950 2,654,606 Stearns et a1.Oct. 6, 1953 2,876,011 Hunt Mar. 3, 1959

7. A PREFABRICATED SEGMENT FOR A BOWLING PIN OF PREDETERMINED SIZE ANDSHAPE, CONPRISING: A UNITARY SEGMENT OF A BOWLING PIN WALL HAVING AVERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL CURVATURE CORRESPONDING TO A PORTION OF THEVERTICAL SIDE WALL OF A BOWLING PIN PRODUCT AND EXTENDING NOT ONLYVERTICALLY OVER A DISTANCE AT LEAST EQUAL TO THAT OF THE BALL IMPACTZONE OR BELLY OF SAID PRODUCT PIN BUT ALSO HORIZONTALLY OVER A DISTANCEEQUAL TO A PREDETERMINED FRACTION OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID PRODUCTPIN BUT NOT